Title

PoPcOrN

Problem Scenario

In this experiment i'm trying to figure out what temperature is best for storing popcorn.

Broad Question

What temperature is best for storing popcorn?

Specific Question

Does storage temperature (room, refrigerated, frozen, under a light) impact the popping of popping popcorn?

Hypothesis

If i store popcorn in room temperature, refrigerated, frozen, or under a light then the popcorn under the light will pop more because there is more warmth.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

Storage places (refrigerated, frozen, and underneath a light)

Dependent Variable:

Room temperature

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

NONE

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

Popcorn- varieties of corn whose kernels burst open and puff out when subjected to dry heat.
Storage- Storage capacity of space

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General Plan

In this experiment i'm trying to figure out what storage place is best for popping popcorn. the storage places that I'm testing is room temp., refrigerated, frozen, and underneath a lamp. I put 100 kernels in four baggies and placed them in the storage places. I believe that the 100 kernels underneath the lamp will pop more.After i pop the popcorn i will measure the mass of each baggie, to see if the storage places make a difference of the weight.

Potential Problems And Solutions

The popcorn could of caught on fire, we would have a pathway to the sink.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

The popcorn could of caught on fire, we would have a pathway to the sink.

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Number Of Comparison Categories:

The number of comparison categories is four different storage places (underneath a lamp, room temperature, refrigerated,and frozen).

Number of Comparison Samples:

There is one of each storage place

Number Of Observation In Each Sample:

The number of observation in each sample is four per storage place.

When data will be collected

The data will be collected March 22.

Where will data be collected?:

My data will be collected on my google docs.

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
kernels	1 bucket	hannafords/walmart	3.00/4.00
baggies	1 box	dollar tree	1.00

Detailed Procedure

1. Get supplies, kernels, baggies, popcorn machine
2. Put 100 pieces of popcorn in four baggies
3. Label the baggies room temp., refrigerated, frozen, undernaeath a lamp
4.Put the baggies in the places they should be
5. Leave them there for 24 hours
6. After 24 hours take observations about what storage place is best.

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

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Data Table

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Data Analysis

All Raw Data

Graphs

Photos

Results

Conclusion

I found out about doing this experiment is that I was wrong, I predicted that the popcorn storage underneath the lamp would pop more because of the warmth. my prediction was just the opposite of what happened. The popcorn storage in a freezer popped more, because what i researched about the popcorn kernels is that; there is a small amount of water stored in a circle of soft starch inside the hard outer casing of the kernel. when you cook the kernel around 450 degrees the moisture turns into steam creating pressure within. Once all the steam builds up the outer casing gives away. that is why the popcorn storage in the freezer popped more. This was a fun experiment

Discussion

Benefit to Community and/or Science

Background Research

References

Abstract

In this experiment i was trying to figure out what storage place was best for popping popcorn. what i did is that there was four storage places, room temp., refrigerated, frozen, and underneath a light. In those storage places i put 100 kernels in a baggie and put them in the storage place. After about a day or so I popped the popcorn, to see which one was best by the left over kernels. I thought the 100 kernels underneath the light would pop more because of the heat. After i popped the popcorn I did a little research and found out that there is a little bit of water in each kernel. once the popcorn is cooked around 450 degrees, the water turns in to steam and it builds up and that's how popcorn pops. The kernels underneath the light, the water dried up. That means the kernels underneath the light popped the least. The popcorn in the freezer popped more because it preserved the water. That means the refrigerated and room temp. had one kernel left over, the kernels underneath the light had nine kernels left over, and frozen had zero. I learned a lot from this experiment by the research! i can't wait till next year!